Things from my brain

This is a blog of my personal experiences. This really has no theme, other than I hope it is entertaining, at least sometimes. I write about my experiences as a freelancer, teacher, and observations on life and the world. Click the button to get in contact with me.

Approximately 52 days and 7 hours ago, I quit smoking. Cold turkey. Since then I have not had a cigarette. I also have avoided any sort of nicotine replacement product such as the electronic cigarette or the gum. Hell, I haven’t even licked a chain smoker to get some of that sweet, sweet nicotine. Yay me. It was quite difficult at first. I had basically been smoking at least two packs a day for the previous seven years, and like releasing a beloved family dog into the woods because it tried to eat the neighbor’s baby, it’s hard to let go. A quick look around the internet will find you dozens of websites with information about quitting. They really hype the benefits (you will feel better, you will save money, you won’t smell like Russia!) and also warn you of the difficulties (you will gain weight, you will have intense cravings, you will act like a miserable boob to everyone within earshot). But I have also discovered that there are some other fascinating side-effects from smoking cessation that they don’t mention. I’m still struggling with things like:You Are Constantly Hungry Everyone knows that you gain weight when you quit smoking. I gained a few pounds, but you can’t really notice, because with me that’s like throwing a few handfuls of sand onto the beach. The experts usually chalk that up to the fact that you are so used to the hand-to-mouth motion that when you take the cigarettes away, you simply keep doing that motion, but replace cigarettes with food. Bullshit. I gained weight because I’m hungry ALL THE TIME. I don’t mean that in the way that I get hungry every few hours, I mean that I am literally hungry every single goddamn moment of my life. When I eat, I eat until I’m full, then I’m hungry again five minutes later. I’m concerned that if left unsupervised, I will just continue eating until I burst like that guy in Se7en. The reason for this is that nicotine spurs the release of blood sugar; so that every time you have a cigarette, you get a little pick me up of energy. When you get that 50 times a day from cigarettes and then suddenly yank that away, your body wants to replace that with food. All day long.You Discover that the World Smells Like Shit One of the great benefits that is repeated over and over about quitting smoking is that you fully regain your sense of taste and smell. This is not as wonderful as it sounds. You see, when you smoke, you can only end up smelling things that are intensely powerful, either good or bad. It takes actually standing next to a bakery oven to smell freshly baked bread. Likewise, if something smells bad, it has to really smell awful for it to register. When I smoked, there seemed to be an equal amount of good and bad out there in the world; there was balance to the Force, and that was fine. Now, I am discovering all kinds of new smells, and the vast majority of them are horrendous. Public transportation, bathrooms, Czech food, perfume stores, city parks, KFC, all of these things smell terrible. There are actually far more horrible smells in the world than good ones, you non-smokers have just gotten used to it. But let me tell you, the outside world stinks.You Discover that You Smell Like Shit I shower every day, I brush my teeth twice a day, and I wear deodorant and clean clothes like a normal human in the West ought to. This should be enough to keep me smelling pretty, or at least stop me from smelling like I rolled in the compost heap. It doesn’t. When I smoked, I would constantly just smell like…smoke. Now I don’t, I simply smell like all other manner of foul body odor. The first two weeks after I quit, I was showering three times a day because I thought I was filthy. Again, this is something that non-smokers don’t realize because they’ve simply gotten used to the way they smell. But when you quit smoking and finally find out what you actually smell like, you kind of want to barf all the time.You Can’t Sleep - Ever Most people use the term “Insomnia” pretty loosely. Most people I know claim to have insomnia when it takes them more than 20 minutes to fall asleep for two consecutive nights. If I could fall asleep in 20 minutes, I would be thrilled (when I woke up, of course). One of the possible side-effects that you don’t see mentioned that often is serious insomnia. As in you are completely exhausted, can barely keep your eyes open so you lay down in bed, turn the lights off and get ready for sleep to overtake your as it should. But it doesn’t. You’re still exhausted, mentally and physically, and you can’t fucking fall asleep for fucking hours. It takes me about 4 hours to fall asleep now, and I usually sleep for around 5 hours. The insomnia supposedly fades after a month or two, which is good, because I’m slowly approaching complete zombification.Smoking Keeps Your Regular Spoiler Alert: I am going to talk about poo. I used to really enjoy pooping. I had a nice schedule: when I woke up, sometime in the late afternoon, and again before bed. I would grab a book or magazine and just chill out with some time for myself. That has gone to shit. Something that hardly anyone ever mentions about smoking is that it helps regulate your bowels. Now, I have no clue when I’m going to have to bomb the harbor. Maybe this is what it’s normally like for you never-smokers, but for me, this is a big deal. I still wake up in the morning and head to the bathroom…and nothing happens. Then, all of a sudden, half-way through breakfast I’m flinging my Honey Nut Cheerios to the floor and running for the toilet. I hardly even have time to grab my book. While it has added a level of adventure and unpredictability to my life, I somewhat miss the old way. While all of the above issues are not bad enough to make me return to smoking cigarettes, it would have been nice if I was warned about these things ahead of time. In other news, I want a cheeseburger.

Hi Adam, What a fun site. And I think I have seen a short clip of Adam Sweet, the porn star.

Anyway, I am pleased with your smoking cessation and have a few thoughts. I also found it was best to just quit cold turkey and tough out the first few weeks. I also discovered I couldn't just have one now and then; I'm either on or off.

I tend to agree with a lot of your observations about side effects of quitting. Sense of smell and taste get sharper; I don't think the negatives are more frequent than the positives, but they are more annoying.

I gained wt and like to nibble. I actually did use licorice sticks one time and found it satisfying. Also Tootsi pops. Overall though I am less hungry when I've been on a good exercise regimen, like my bike riding.

I think I was more "regular" when I smoked. Not a big deal.

The most concerning to me is your statement of being hungry all the time. Your grandfather Herbert used to say he could eat a full meal and turn around and eat it again, like never feeling really satisfied. And this was when he was still a smoker. So it might be genetic, and with that is the worry of diabetes which he had late in life. So given that an your Mom's condition I do hope you pay serious attention to your diet, exercise and check-ups. Prevention is better than treatment. End of preaching.

So, hope you're in a good place. I like to hear what you're up to.

Love,

Uncle John

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Bishop

14/11/2013 01:40:15 am

My sense of smell is so strong now, I cannot eat !!!!!! Makes me sick and no I'm not a pot smoker , what can I do????? Please help

My only problem is the irregular pooping. Haven't gone in a few days and I have dropped 11 pounds not gained I'm not always hungry I'm seldom honfry and I and sick all the time now. To

Wendy K

28/9/2015 06:43:07 am

I can't find any info anywhere on the Internet that relates to the experience I had on the third day after quiting smoking cold turkey. The best way to describe it is I stopped dead in my tracks, and tried to figure out who I was and where I was. I had no mental illness with the exception of situational depression. If something bad happened, I felt down about it for a couple of days. I wasn't depressed like I was unable to get out of bed or anything like that. What happened to me? The next day I went out and bought an e-cigarette starter kit and it never happened again.

Wendy
Cigarette smoking (or any addiction) is about moderating emotions not about nicotine - gamblers don't ingest anything and they still have an addiction. When you feel sad, the mind says I will help you calm down (or escape the problem or relax and think about the problem) by having a cigarette. When you work too much without taking a break, the mind says I will help you take a break by suggesting a cigarette break. When you have a situational depression incident, the mind is helping you moderate your emotional pain by relaxing into a cigarette. Without it, your mind may think you couldn't bare the hurt.

What you've done with e-cigs now is switched the addiction to e-cigs so the mind thinks you are calm again. To stop your need for anything addictive, you would need to learn how to behave in the situational depression incidents so you have a win-win result rather than a they win-I lose result. Don't kid yourself about e-cigs. There is nothing good about them. I haven't met anyone who found them to be the solution. In fact, some people end up with more nicotine in their body than with cigs.

Smoking is about moderating painful emotions over and over again using a the cigarette as a body regulating drug for emotional pain. But painful situations are best moderated by understanding peoples' behaviors and responding with the appropriate behaviors.

In one day, if you smoke 15 cigarettes, that's how many times your mind felt a need to escape a painful situation or a situation you didn't like in some way. The painful situation may have happened a week ago or much longer and you just thought about it or the painful situation may just be you work too much and are afraid to take a break unless you have a cigarette as an excuse.

Society seems to have been hypnotized into the idea that nicotine is the problem. After four days of no smoking, there is no nicotine in the body at all. People think the nicotine is drawing them to it. No, their painful emotions are drawing them to an escape place. If you want to escape an addiction of any kind (cigarettes, gambling, over-eating, etc.), get help with relating issues. There are ways to build relationships that people who had parents with major issues never learned, but other people did.
Why can some people stop smoking easily and some not? Because the people with major emotional issues have attached smoking to a place to escape the issue. People who can stop smoking did not do that. They just smoked for awhile because other people were doing it. It was not used to escape an emotional problem such as being lonely or being overlooked or being nobody or being rejected or being left out or being not heard or being bullied.

When you are totally hooked on e-cigs, you will see what I mean. Try to see what you are thinking about just before you smoke so you can track what emotion is triggering you. Is it simply to take a break or is it something someone just said that hurt your feelings or is it a boss or colleague who hurts your feelings? Or is it thinking about someone you love who doesn't treat you properly? Therein is where your smoking triggers are. Get help to handle those types of issues if you want to stop smoking.

LeAnn

Greg A

2/12/2015 12:36:25 pm

Not to cause you stress, Wendy, but nicotine itself is a bad thing. Wile you are not getting the tar and numerous other toxins in tobacco smoke, the nicotine still does its work, such as restricting blood vessels and raising blood pressure. I've quit for nearly 2 weeks becoming a giant in the field of self-denial, and humility, obviously. (ok, not so much) Good luck.

Lauren

20/1/2016 12:00:51 am

I am totally feeling this pain right now

Tim

27/1/2016 11:52:25 am

LeAnn, while people do use smoking to deal with sifficult situations, that is not necessarily the reason why people smoke. I actually smoked more when I was happy as a celebration than I did when I was sad or angry.

People smoke because they are addicted. Addiction does not mean there was some emotional problem. It is genetic which is why some people can casually smoke, drink, gamble, use drugs etc and others cannot because they fall into addiction.

Understanding the addiction and how to break it is most important. Taking it one day at a time is most important. There may not be an emtional reason for the use so reading about and watching expert videos regarding the addiction of smoking and how to break the habit is the best way to quit smoking. Joel Spitzer has many great youtube videos on the subject.

Dave G

14/6/2016 05:35:55 pm

Wendy. I had the EXACT same thing and so did my uncle after quitting except for with me, it was a couple months after. I had to pull over to the side of the road and try to remember where I was going, where I was, and who I was. It scared me. I talked to my doctor about it and he said it happens all the time to regular smokers.

Cindy

9/3/2016 09:47:45 am

On the topic of regularity..... If you drink 3 to 4 glasses of water FIRST thing in the morning, you will no longer need your coffee to help you stay "regular". If the water doesn't do the trick, then definitely proceed with coffee.... I drink about 20 oz of coffee every morning, with my breakfast. By the time I've eaten and finished my coffee, all within 40 min time..... There are NO issues in the bathroom..... Also, a product called "Culturelle, Health and Wellness", is most commonly found at CVS, and if you take ONE each night after dinner or before bed, it will help keep you regular as well.... Just make sure is the "Health and Wellness" one. The purple box that says "digestive health", has Chicory Root in it, also called Inulin, and that will be a bit MUCH for your stomach to handle! Always go with the Culturelle, "Health and Wellness".
As for the weight gain, most of it is WATER RETENTION. Unless you are truly eating more than you used to, the weight you are experiencing is water. When you quit an addiction like smoking, alcohol, drugs of any sort, your body is craving it, even if you feel fine.... Your hormones then kick in, and start retaining water. Someone explained it to me one time, but I can't remember exactly why. But this is the truth!! My legs and ankles ALWAYS swell, every time I have quit..... And it's been a few times.... When I go back to smoking again, even after the first night of having a couple, I'll wake up in the morning, with smaller ankles, and a lot less water retention! I know it sounds crazy, but I swear that's what causes MOST of the weight we gain when quitting! I've found that throwing yourself into working out, tends to help a LOT!! I was walking about 3 times a week, for 6 miles each time..... Sometimes only 4 miles.... And I was LOSING WEIGHT, while I was quitting smoking! I'm currently at 4 days with no smoking again...... I feel wonderful, but need to go walking because I'm retaining water..... And just keep in mind that we ALL can do this!!! Replace the habit with exercise..... I promise you won't be sorry!!! Good luck to all!! :)

This was hilarious! I know, my mother always told me to not laugh at others misfortunes(just cant help it) the smells of the World do become intense and wrm milk with honey helped me with the insomnia.

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Wendy K

30/9/2015 07:22:07 am

LeeAnn, thanks for commenting. I should have been more specific with my timeline. I actually smoked 25 years, and initially quit cold turkey. This was about 2 years ago. I thought I could do it cold turkey. The depression came ten years earlier when I split with my ex hisband; I'm not depressed anymore. The incident that happened 3 days after I quit, was almost like amnesia. I attributed it to quitting a daily activity that I just stopped doing. My mind was confused. Why wasn't I doing that thing I've done on a daily basis for twenty years? It was so confused that I had a kind of disassociation type incident. My son brought me out of it and it was so strange that I cried for hours. The next day I went out and bought an e-cigarette starter kit. I figured if I was going through the motions and mimicing the behavior, I would be okay. It worked. I quit for 8 months and wasn't even using the nicotine cartridges; it was all about the behavior itself. Soon after I hit the 8th month mark, my dog passed away, and my 90 year-old father went into the hospital. I started back smoking. Right now, I'm down to 6 cogarettes a day. I've convinced myself they taste bad. It seems to be working. It was just strange that I had such a weird response to quitting the first time. I wondered if my mind was protecting itself by having an episode of amnesia.

First I want to say that stopping smoking cold turkey after 25 years is indeed quite an accomplishment! And when you say you weren't using the e-cig nicotine cartridges and it was all about the behavior itself - that is really what I think: People smoke to escape uncomfortable emotions, but it's not the nicotine that is addictive - it is the needing to escape by getting away to have a cigarette or being with someone as you are having a cigarette to comfort you. The mind then thinks that you like that comfort.

Notice that the dog passing away (uncomfortable emotion) and father being in hospital (uncomfortable emotion) started the smoking up again. Both of those emotions need to be reduced to the norm and new comforting behavior from yourself and/or others put in place so you don't need to smoke for comfort. The way you have this set up, any time you lose someone or think you might lose someone, your mind will suggest you have a cigarette. If you totally refuse cigarettes, then it will have to come up with something else to comfort you which is where the new addiction could come into play or you'd go back to smoking.
.
It could be your mind was protecting itself by the episode of amnesia! But it also could have been that your mind was reminded of the divorce which could have been traumatic for you where you might have dissociated and had nothing but a cigarette to cling to - that could be why having no cigarette to cling to meant you'd be dissociated again which the mind could hardly bare without a cigarette for company.

My guess is that if you do release work on the divorce dissociation pain and the pain of loss (dog) or potential loss (dad), your smoking would be much, much easier to stop.

Thinking smoking has a bad taste is a helpful strategy to stop smoking, but emotional pain easily exceeds aversion thoughts of bad taste so you end up needing some comfort in your mouth if you have emotional pain. That comfort could switch to putting food in your mouth if you stop the e-cig.

The way to stop totally without picking up another addiction is simply to release the divorce pain and loss pain and fear of loss. I would say that that pain sits in your mind and would take about 15 minutes for each of those three pains to be released so you could stop smoking without picking up a new addiction.

Tim

27/1/2016 11:45:25 am

Confusion and disorientation is a common symptom during nicotine withdrawal. It aubsides after a week or so. View Joel Spotzer's videos which discuss it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YYGsz7WNh_8

Shannon Payne Meyers

11/12/2015 02:22:58 pm

Adam Sweet, thank you for writing and publishing your experience with quiting cigs. It is a journey and staying positive is essential to staying on track but damn those who don't see the humor in our ways. I've smoked on and off since college and even quit for 15 years, obviously this isn't my first Rodeo. Yes, I do smell like onion soup:/ can't sleep when I want to, hunger is an understatement, bathroom breaks are impossible to predict. Thankfully I have learned some tricks in my old age that I would like to share with anyone who needs help navigating their daily routine without cigs. 1) Melatonin (daily) helps me to sleep and had probably saved me from loosing my shit countless occasions. 2) Kashi cereal. Eat one bowl before bed. Warning: one bowl, eat two and may God be with you. This will help you poop in the AM like a good soldier.
3) Bury your dead. I feel like I had to morn the loss of my daily best friend. I can't replace that feeling that nicotine gave me and it can not be replaced so I morn it's loss and move on. 4) Never forget your addicted even if you've not smoked in 15yrs. You will foolishly think that one cig won't send you back to your pack a day habit, but it does...it always does.

Have you ever written for cracked.com? This is the kind of stuff I would expect to see on there!

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Shaq

30/5/2015 07:59:39 pm

I totally agree. I loved the flinging Cheerios part!

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Carla

30/6/2013 07:37:49 am

Hey Adam,

You are freaking hilarious. I have recently quit smoking myself. I am on day 19. I can relate to a lot of what you are saying. I enjoyed your blog so much that it had me laughing aloud multiple times.
I can’t wait until I go into Sears and pass out. (The perfume section is in the entryway).

I felt rather healthy as a smoker and I decided to quit before that changes.
Cheers to coughing, constipation, and constant annoyance!

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Christina

22/6/2015 10:10:59 am

I have been smoke free 7 months, 6days, 10 hrs, and 4 mins. Thanks to the ticker you can get, also saved about 2000.00 , and haven't smoked about 7500 cigs. If you quit you should be proud... it's hard and trust me if not for my husband i found myself wanting to drive to the store everytime I got pissed. Hints... In my car was the worst habit to break, I got gum, and always took a drink with me. This helps trust me... Smoke breaks at work, walk around the building or space that you can. it helps... the longer you go, the easier it gets unless your a women.. cause not only do you go through mood swings, ur girl parts interfere causing all kinds of hell.... Good Luck!!!

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Amanda

20/1/2014 12:55:03 pm

Wonderful! I actually googled 'how to poo when you quit smoking' and even though you didn't give me any insight into that...I got some good laughs! At least I'm not the only one experiencing these symptoms! (42 days no longer a smoker!)

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Sara

9/2/2014 02:33:31 pm

The best thing I have read yet. Some real damn words!!!!

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Rebecca b

6/7/2014 01:05:21 am

Love it! All so true!

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sam

3/8/2014 08:19:43 am

Hi Adam
Well done on the quitting, hope you keep it up I gave up 3 years and 4 months ago, something i,m quite proud of, but i totally relate to the lack of control over the bow situation I am still struggling even more so now since i started dieting to get rid of the weight gain from the quitting, not gonna let it beat me, if i find anything that helps i'll post it gl and keep it up :)

That is really wonderful article I have ever read, it is too good to read such information about smoking habit,

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Liz.A

10/8/2014 11:05:44 am

WOW...... what a great read, funny indeed......it is so good to see that I am not the only one suffering from these symptoms....... 5 months & counting since I had my last smoke :)

There are many reasons why people quit, for me it was a mixture of the following:

Preparing to have a baby in the next year or so
My skin (face & hands) was starting to look old
My gums were starting to recede
Ulcer type things in my nose
The inability to breathe whilst exercising
Long term effects of smoking scare me - it's the unknown (it will never happen to me....)
$$ MONEY $$

The ability to smell does suck a lot.... but my ability to taste is a bonus & definitely outweighs the latter.

I also struggle to fall asleep no matter how tired I am, but once I'm asleep it's okay.... although, I am now a lighter sleeper, so tend to wake up to unfamiliar noises throughout the night!!

I get so annoyed that I have done the right thing, made the 'healthy choice' to quit but have gone through so much crap:

Have had a gastroscopy & colonoscopy to see what is going on with my digestive system...... they couldn't find anything, which no news is good news, but it still doesn't help me get to the bottom of the issues I'm having!!

Have been going to the gym 3-4 per week since before I quit smoking.... but for some reason still put on weight & am really struggling to loose it.....

Every one I speak to about these side effects disagrees with me that its relative to me quitting smoking..... BS, why did I never experience these things as a smoker??

Has any else experienced the additional effects I have mentioned??

On a positive note, keep up the good work, DO think of the money & all the other great benefits of STOPPING SMOKING (refrain from using the word quit).

If you ever feel like your slipping back into the habbit, get the Allan Car stop smoking CD..... don't read the book.... it helps alter your perspective :)

GOOD LUCK, Liz.

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Maggie

26/3/2015 10:03:16 am

Hi Liz, I smoked over 40 a day, I 'stopped' 2 months ago, iv never had a problem with my weight but now I'm putting on? I hardly eat (was the same when I smoked) I drink a lot of full fat coke but now gave that up, going to gym 4 times a week, plenty fruit ect, don't understand it, they say metabolism? X

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Me

20/11/2015 04:21:35 pm

This is just your metabolism normalising. It was at a faster rate before because of the cigarettes but it was unnaturally high.
Exercise better (maybe you need to increase or intensify it as you may have hit a plateau), sleep better, if you are eating more eat more veg instead of cakes.
People mostly relapse because of weight gain but normally only put on 5 pounds to a stone when they stop smoking.
I heard that weight normalises after a while and can even be lost.
It is a change to an entire lifestyle. Nicotine increased metabolic rate but at what price does one stay at 8 stones? Cells were becoming abnormal. I didn't want to die of cancer. Yes, we all die one day but I figured why should I increase the likelihood. I could still get a fatal cancer or other life-threatening illness but at least I can rest reassured I did not make life even shorter by smoking the cancer sticks with no nutritional value, making me stay slim because of carcinogenic properties, formaldehyde, .and arsenic amonst others.

julie

9/1/2016 06:00:21 pm

One month free. Cold turkey. Loss about 15 pounds. Will power. Miserable as hell. Everything stink. No sleep. Im a veteran so Im up to the challenge. !!. Adam you're very funny !! .

Mo

31/5/2016 09:39:44 am

You need to eat more, not eating enough will cause weight gain and health issues just like eating too much

Drew

20/5/2015 01:15:42 am

Yes, I'm in hell with you, darling. and as you posted this 6 months ago, I would like you to tell me what's up now. I am the same age and smoked off and on for 28 years... poor habits kept me from being an all the time smoker. In the end, I became outrageously depressed with the whole habit and gave it up when I got REALLY sick. which is taking some time to come back from. SO... pretty please... send me some words. I feel like a well man trapped inside a borderline dying body and, like Adam, I'm deep in the exhaustion of withdrawl / anxiety based insomnia. I can't wait for all this to pass. sigh sigh and double sigh... snore, wake, snore... what? >8-D

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John T.

28/7/2015 01:22:09 am

In addition to all of the already mentioned, I have had many other strange symptoms when I quit. Colds, flu, canker sores, numbness and tingling in mouth and tongue, stiff muscles, achy joints, fatigue, cramping in legs and feet. The most annoying is the tingling and numbness in mouth and tongue. My Dr. just thinks I'm crazy. These symptoms lasted for 7 months after quitting the last time. I started smoking again and they all went away. Trying to quit again, two days in, but I know my strange symptoms will return (numbness and tingling in mouth and tongue already started) which I'll endure as long as possible, then start smoking again to get rid of strange symptoms. It's a vicious circle that seems unbreakable.

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Amanda

30/7/2015 04:31:30 am

YES! I think I'm crazy now after quitting, my mouth is a mess some days canker sores some days swollen gums some days my tongue hurts lol, mouth/upper lip and bridge of my nose is numb/tingling, my muscles are tight and "locked" up, cramping in hands and feet. I could go on and on. I'm 5 months in and I'm hoping things get better soon.

Liza M

16/11/2015 10:42:29 pm

John I totally understand your 'tingling and numbness in the mouth'. I found this article because I typed in those symptoms as a result of giving up smoking. It's driving me
Crazy!

Ursula

6/12/2015 03:27:17 pm

These things can be scary. I tried to quit cold turkey about a month ago. I failed because I really contemplated suicide and it scared the bejezus out of me so I started smoking again. I then had a revelation during that first cigarette back that it was my brain or body trying to deceive me (why my revelations come while doing the one thing I want to stop is so fricken annoying).
Is the sensation always there or only when you do certain activities, such as sit still? You might be able to ride it out longer if it only happens when you are able to focus on it and go and do something g else to take your mind off it. Just a suggestion.

tiff

12/1/2016 07:01:32 am

The tingling is your blood vessels returning blood to areas that were previously low flow due to nicotine restricting blood vessels. Rejoice I say. Am on day three and sleepless. My issues are similar. The black mood and the constant nausea are what has kept me going back. Never again. If I am still alive when I am 70 I am taking it up again. This is my mantra. Hopefully in 20 years I won't want to. The likelihood I will be alive is not good though.

Blessed

10/9/2015 10:33:07 am

Liz A I have been told the same thing that smoking hasn't caused my weight gain, bloating, feet swelling etc. But I have NEVER had an issue with it before. I would eat less and healthier than when I smoked and still gained 30 lbs. I think that put my body into shock. I have never had a weight issue.

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angie mcdonald

27/8/2014 11:45:30 am

So funny and all so true! Stopped smoking one year ago but still starving all the time. So far I have gained 22lbs and its driving me mad. I feel like my head in constantly in the food cupboard
I wouldnt go back to smoking but its not all win win

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Pam a.k.a. Still In the "Danger" Zone

25/9/2014 12:50:54 am

Found this while searchng online for my weird side effects & not only is it dead on, but hilarious!
I'm only a week in and literally want to physically kill everyone I come into contact with. I don't even like my dogs anymore, because of my newfound sense of smell...they fart a LOT & it smells BAD! I'm taking Champix, which helps a lot with the nicotine withdrawal, but not completely, trust me! (Hense me wanting to kill everyone...lol) I'm also lucky because I've been locked away from other smokers, so less temptation. (No one else in my family smokes)
What they don't tell you is you will STINK!! I mean STINK! I bathe constantly & can not stand my own smell. My husband says I smell like pot...lol. (He used to bounce in a nightclub, & well, I used to indulge occasionally, many years ago) But I am terrified to leave the house for fear I'll be arrested! I also have not had food cravings...I've spent most if the last week with terrible nausea, & then, well, the opposite of constipation. Not pretty.
This is so far a horrid journey after smoking for 34 years. (& MANY other tries) But I am far more stubborn as a person than my cravings are, so I WILL be successful at this.
Thanks for your amazing article/blog. It really helped me today. And SO funny & sincere!

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NIm

21/10/2015 04:34:46 pm

Be careful about Champix. I've got horrible side effects and stopped taking it after day 2!!

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dan UK 30 yo

25/9/2014 08:05:32 am

3 weeks ago I gave up weed (everyday, 2 joints min.)tobacco(roll ups, at least 5 per day min.) And alcohol(every other day usually few cans and few vodkas midweek and good binge or two at weekends. I replaced the smoking with 12mg strength ecig, smoking a reasonable amount per day, maybe 2ml. Went cold turkey on the other two. I've had horrendous symptoms like insomnia for first 3 days barely any sleep at all, got angry when trying to sleep ( angry thoughts). I put this down to the weed. For first week I sweated, cold sweats warm sweats, shivering,headaches etc. But the worst symptom I has been not being able to shit properly. Was OK for first couple of days but then its like being constipated, and when I did squeeze some out it was super thin like noodle shits and not much of it. Pain in my bowel and really fowl smelling silent farts. But today 3 weeks in, I'm sleeping great, not sweaty anymore, feel refreshed in morning, moods are a lot better,breathing better, nose unblocked,voice sounds better, and this morning I laid the most satisfying cable ever in the bog and felt my gut getting instantly better!! No more rank farts either. So peeps, moral of my story is, give it a month and you'll be over the worst of it so just give your body a break and go off all the vices for a while.peace out.

In my first week and was contemplating burning bedding and recently worn clothing. My personal smell is so awful. In addition, my tongue resembles nothing like a tongue. It's just a fuzzy, yellowish, rippled mass. Nonetheless, I knows I gotta stick with it. Smoking blows.

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Matt K

28/12/2014 11:46:03 pm

Awesome post! You're a funny bloke. As everyone else has, I would like to share my story. I've quit a bunch of times. Too many to count. I've quit twice for three months and started again because I was an idiot. Multiple times for 2-3 weeks and again, I was an idiot.

The change:

My wife and I found out we were having a baby. As soon as we found out, my wife quit and I tried, but failed. I set multiple dates to quit but couldn't get through that first day, so I decided to quit the day my daughter was born because that would be the motivation I needed... That didn't work.

I kept deciding to quit spontaneously or on specific dates, I'd quit cold turkey and try substitutes but I'd find myself sucking down another cancer stick before I knew it. I had decided I couldn't smoke around my newborn daughter and my wife kept telling me that the nicotine stays on my skin and in my body for hours or days which is actually true. The addiction couldn't be broken.

I ended up deciding I wouldn't quit but would cut down and potentially quit later . As most of you know, you pick up the habit harder once you try slow it down or stop. But eventually, I made a rule. This rule was THE RULE for me. I said to myself, I won't smoke before or after work, or on weekends. This was an incredible struggle for me. Going through withdrawals everyday after work and every weekend. I was punishing myself, all the time.

I wasn't able to hold myself to the rule all the time but didn't feel too disappointed when I broke it. I just thought "I'll try to keep the rule again" opposed to relapsing. I eventually got used to not smoking before or after work and on weekends (although weekends are sometimes really tough), so I was smoking 5 days out of 7 and only for part of those 5 days. I was still going through a pack of 20 every day or two though. I decided not to quit and instead, I decided not to smoke, not forever, just for 2 weeks (I had made this decision before when i was going on holidays because I thought that breaking my routine would help, but that was going from a full time smoker to not at all, while on holidays and with the plan to never smoke again. Let me tell you, the holidays weren't enjoyable for anyone until I started smoking again).

On my current 2 weeks, I've just finished the first week of not smoking today. I've gone through feeling sick, nightmares, ridiculously bad body odor, I mean horrible body odor (I had a 20 minute shower, got out, smelled myself and got back in the shower) and cravings. After putting myself through all the pain previously every weeknight and every weekend, it's been a lot easier this time by comparison. This is the first time I've stunk so bad though, it's ridiculous. I've also made sure to stay away from other smokers and the most important part is to have no cigarettes of my own and not to buy a pack. That's where I've mucked up so many times before. Buying a pack for yourself is the biggest trap of all because that's you dedicating yourself to another pack which you'll never finish sy the right time so you have to buy another.

Up until a week ago, I couldn't take my cigarettes out of the car, and on weekends, I couldn't take them out of the office. As long as I didn't buy a pack, I was fine.

For me, i think it's not quitting for good, it's just, not smoking for 2 weeks and seeing how I feel. I've got a feeling that I'll choose to go another week or 2, or 4 without one and take it week by week or month by month until I forget to make the decision because I'll already be a non smoker, but only time will tell.

Also, don't tell anybody you're quitting. Psychologically, you feel like you've already achieved it once you tell people so you are more likely to go back to the addiction because there's no reward for actually achieving your goal once people know about it.

I've probably said too much, but here's to hoping I finish this next week. I didn't even tell my wife until today.

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Natalie

14/5/2015 11:14:00 pm

This is so helpful for me to hear this, thank you - I'm doing something similar and think,"am I just kidding myself here?" But so far it's working for me. Including the "don't tell anyone you're quitting." Maybe it's a certain kind of mind that requires us to think this way about quitting ... I hope it worked for you, and I hope it works for me.
P.S. I'm not hungry, yoga seems to help with bowels, and two days in my skin still smells like smoke after multiple showers - and I cry every ten minutes in panic and despair. I guess that's better than wanting to hurt people!

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Jillibean52

12/7/2015 08:48:38 am

hi Matt
Enjoyed your post, have you succeeded to achieve what you hoped.
Cheers

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Jillibean52

12/7/2015 09:08:41 am

Hi Matt
Loved your post, how are your goals going
Cheets

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Tasha

9/1/2015 01:15:23 am

Day 3 I slipped and smoked 1 today tho it was more like a half of one because it tasted like dirt and shit and I threw it away today I will get back on my sense of smell came back quick every body stinks I eat like crazy now when i never did that as a smoker i haven't slept for 3 days so I know your pain I am wondering if it is just better to smoke lol also I am coughing up mucus left and right I didn't have this problem before.

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Lauren

7/2/2015 06:30:12 pm

Doesn't it suck when your family finds your stuff, and then gets all up in your bees wax? I'm convinced that my aunt is stalking me. Now I have to be all nice and stuff. No offense Uncle John.

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Lel

8/2/2015 08:45:24 am

Boohoo I just don't know when I'm gonna shit anymore

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Matt

10/9/2015 01:45:32 am

Has it got better? 6 weeks for me and it's so uncomfortable ahhhhh

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Ruby

11/9/2015 12:14:10 am

3 more days will be 6 weeks, couple days ago, I got a sore throat but that is linked to something going around, according to a friend that has a sore throat, and my doctor's input was, it's probably viral, after checking my throat, mouth, glands, and chest. I also told my doctor that I will be needing to stay on the step 1 of the patches, because when I forget to put one on in the morning the cravings are too intense. He advised me to stay on the patches, and said sometimes staying on the patches betters your chances for quitting.
I am going to stay positive and will update soon.

David

11/3/2015 02:33:29 am

I have given up just over a week and i get some smelly farts now.I even have to walk away they are that bad . They are so frequent now,I sort of get the thing about not being regular i used to go pretty much the same time every day. Now can be 3 or 4 days before i go. Getting a sense of smell back is not good LOL. I do not feel any hungrier than before i have smoked for 35 years . I just thought the cost and now it is not as sociable as it once was.

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brandy

18/9/2015 12:22:11 pm

So nice to know the gas is not just me lol. 5 days a non smoker!

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Tyler

26/7/2016 03:31:51 am

Farts are bullshit i near killed me and my girlfriend driving. One slipped and we near choked to death . Day6 no smoke but im on campix?

I am on day 19 and Amen for this. Could I just add, I have read a lot about the "terrible 3's", for the love of God. Please have mercy. I don't necessarily want a cigarette, I just cry for no reason, want to commit mass murder, then cry. This made me laugh - probably because of how true it is (particularly the poo poo issues). Thank you for the best laugh I have had since I watched a health insurance commercial where the Dirty Dancing song came on and a hubby and wife were about to start dancing, the hubby turned, but the wifey came in for the lift and the hubby picked her up and threw her into the dining table sending it crashing. Her comment to the Doctor was she came in a little hot. These two things have been my saving grace and only pure joy this week, with the exception of kisses and "I love you" from my children. Oh yes David, I always thought my poo (farts) did not stink. Boy was I wrong!

my cousin has been using a vape pen since he was 18. hes 21 now and there was this one time i took a hit from it. i immediately liked it a lot and then searched about its health benefits. i bought my own after reading about its benefits (check name for link). but before that, i was a heavy smoker. i smoked less and less after that until i didnt smoke at all.

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Deepak saud

6/5/2015 08:57:26 pm

I have quite smoking and believe me after 7days of quiting i was craving so badly but some how i manage not to smoke. And i have something totally abnormal thing to say that after quiting cigrate. I felt like my old days after a month of quiting. I mean smoking really kills all those best feeling that we use to feel when we were non smoker. For eg. A reward feeling of explring new places making new friends. Really smoking release dpomine in our brain which make us feel good. But dopomine also released in natural way without smoking. And really when dopomine is released in natural way than it is thousands time better than cigrate which is only possible by quiting cigrate. So just quite smoking it wil make ur body and ur violet healthy. Haha. Whenever u feel like craving just think that u r not gone die if u dont smoke. Smoke cause memory loss and also ur logical ability to think. Believe me u will crave only for month after that ur mind will giveup to bag for cigrate. So its just about month control urshelf for month and believe me u will feel like u r back in ur real form.

Hi the most helpful advice so far thanks am almost 3 days off cigarettes cold turkey and the idea that after a month I will be back to how I was before taking up the habit 25 years ago is so encouraging.

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lina

3/7/2016 12:03:26 pm

thank you so true

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Natalie

14/5/2015 11:23:23 pm

I know this is an old post, but I want to say thank you - any laugh is good on day two! :-P This and the comments have helped me today, since they're real and sincere and funny. The "lower risk of xyz" reasons to quit just don't mean anything to me. I want the immediate gratification, dopamine hoorah! But laughing has helped me release enough dopamine to make it through this half hour of day 2 without crying ... Success. May I keep adding days, and I hope you and all your commenters are now non smokers.

The shit goes to normal eventually, it's just your body is out of alignment, and shit is always a key indicator of alignment. Soon enough, you'll start enjoying your morning/evening squats all over again.

Without smoke, your clothes,your home, your hands and mouth will smell different. They will smell better but only by comparison. The cigarette smell covered their real smell and smoking numbed your senses. Unfortunately, everything that smells bad will smell bad to a quit smoker who might not have been fully aware of it while smoking.

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Sean

2/6/2015 03:50:47 am

Man oh man imabout a week in cold turkey not one cigarette, im 18 i smoked for three years. My stomach is constantly bubbling and my poop (when i can poop) is definatly not solid. But i have a question someone out there might be able to answer, when i smoked cigarettes i was a heavy pot smoker when i quit i actually stopped liking to smoke cannabis. I still want to every once in a while but when i do i kust dont like it why is this?

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Jejj

3/6/2015 04:11:12 pm

After smoking 3 packs a day for two years, quitting cold turkey, and staying like that for two weeks... it is so strange so so strange. I have never not smoked living in my house. I feel two years younger, but I have this constant feeling that something's not right. That somehow I slipped into an alternate universe where everything looks the same but it different, It's real creepy and I hope it stops.

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Tamara

5/6/2015 10:04:57 pm

I just quit 5 days ago. I feel like an alien on another planet. I don't know who I am or how I am supposed to act. Everything is out of whack. I only felt homicidal for the first 24 hours, now I feel rather apathetic and strange. I wake up at 3 am and can't go back sleep and then don't know what to do with myself. My house stinks like cats, I think I need more candles!!! and I spent two days thinking that I smelled like cat litter myself. Do I really smell like cat litter? my coworkers swear I don't but I think they may be lying to me. Everything smelled like chinese ribs for a few days too but my husband made me ribs and that smell went away. I haven't pooped in 4 days but am eating everything in sight, I may possibly explode. Will I ever feel normal?

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diana

28/12/2015 07:00:17 am

Try raison bran. With flaxmilk. I put in frozen blueberries and half a banana and heat in microwave for a minute. Add some alnon
antonym and chips and enjoy you will go to the bathroom immediately without a cigarette
s

diana

28/12/2015 07:01:22 am

Laurie

27/1/2016 11:03:21 am

OMG Tamara you are hilarious and I can totally relate! I quit on Jan 1st - 27 days and some 6 hours ago. My husband would come in the door at first, looking carefully at me as he said "hi honey I'm home" to see if I was insane that evening. And the eating...I'm hungry CONSTANTLY. I thought things would smell so much better but they don't! I now know how badly my dogs smell. :/. Well, to all - hang in there, and congrats.

As I read your blog it gives me more knowledge and motivation , especially about quitting smoking habit your blog <a href="http://www.getwellnaturally.com.au" target="_blank"> adammsweet.weebly.com </a>. Helped a lot , I hope i can apply this tips and i know it well be tough to stop it , but i will try my very best. Thank you for this amazing ideas . More power!

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Lana

5/6/2015 01:05:37 am

Great blog!
I have been smoking for about 20 years heavily. One day my husband told me you are a strong woman, you did get everything you wanted in your life including me using your strong will but when it comes to cigarettes, you seem so weak lol Actually,I wasn't weak when I didn't quit smoking but because I got used to do what I like no matter what the effects are. And smoking and wine is one of them. But one day when I didn't like them anymore I quitted them both just when I thought it is the right time to do so. No side effects, no regrets and no coming back. I am 35 years old and I did everything in my life with all my will and when I quitted I used the same will.

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Crystal

5/6/2015 02:50:10 pm

Yeah I definitely agree with you. I started smoking as at 13 and am now 25 I just finally stopped 4 months ago and needless to say it has been horrid. I didn't stop because I wanted to but my health was getting bad and it's way to expensive of a habit. I still crave it occasionally but it has gotten easier. For me the worst part about quitting cold turkey was that my depression got extremely bad I just started coming out of my depressive episode last month (no one told me it would make my depression go so out of control). I also started having the worst back aches and still suffer from them, all I know is my back never hurt until I stopped smoking and no I haven't injured it or anything. I can breathe a lot better and my overall health is better but it had some serious cons for me and I wish I had known that stuff would happen. I have definitely gained weight and am hungry at night like crazy (which is when I used to smoke the most). I won't go back to smoking but I do wish I had known that it would affect my depression so badly by quitting. I would say to anyone who has mental health issues to definitely ask your doctor about how quitting will affect you before actually doing it.

Crystal, just to give you the approach I use in Hypnosis: Smoking is something the person does during times of stress. Stress is stored in the body so your comments would indicate you likely store stress in your back. My guess would be that you stored stress there for a long time and it has hit critical point. The stress may be related to the depression in that depression can mean the person loses when they relate to people - which is stressful. Relating is meant to be win-win rather than someone winning and someone losing. Your smoking was when you turned off the "fight or flight" of the central nervous system as you took a break from stress supposedly - it was a mind relaxation break - then you went back to stress after the cig break. My recommendation would be for you to have a medical checkup on your back to be sure it is not a physical thing and to use hypnotic, meditative trance work to release the emotional stress already stored in your back and to get some Cognitive Behavioral Therapy based on relating so you understand how to do win-win in relating - otherwise you will put the stress back in.
Think of it like this: When a person is stressed, they turn on their "fight or flight" (emergency system) which is part of the Central Nervous System. The mind is upset so it locks the emotion in somewhere in the person's body. This happens again and again as people behave in similar ways in similar situations. As more and more stress is locked in, the mind looks for an escape. If the mind thinks it can turn off the "fight or flight system" for a bit while the person smokes (supposedly relaxes), then it encourages the person to smoke.
How do you stop this?
1) Notice the situation that happens just before you want to smoke - who upset you about what.
2) Hypnotically release the craving to escape to the smoking relaxation.
3) Put in a new behavior pattern that encourages the person to relax rather than turn on the "fight or flight" emergency system when someone upsets them.
This can lessen depression in that the new behavior pattern should be set to win-win which feels good because both people feel good. Then the mind doesn't need to store unresolved stress anywhere.
The weight gain and hunger at night would indicate to me the mind is trying to comfort you by feeding you since you won't let yourself be comforted with smoking. The hunger can be turned off by addressing what you are really hungry for - it would be an emotion such as love or fulfillment or connection or some such thing. When the subconscious mind thinks a person is hungry, it seeks to fill the void with anything that will comfort the person. If you manage to not eat too much, it will find another thing to fill the void. To be free, the person needs to address the emotion - it's handling the emotion not the substance that will stop the problem in its tracks! If you handle the emotion then you can see cigarettes and be with smokers and not smoke (or substitute something else) just like other non-smokers. Nothing makes a non-smoker want to smoke unless they have an upset and decide that cigarettes will help relax them. Nowadays, lots of people know that is not true relaxation so even that won't trick a non-smoker into smoking.
LeAnn

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Matt

13/9/2015 02:13:44 pm

Glad it's not just me! I feel like I've been in a bad mood for about 5 weeks now! Who'd have thought quitting smoking can cause all these different things!! Some days it feels like I'm
Making a new thing up, achy legs , arms , feet , light headed , my main one is going to the loo, I've not had a proper sh-t since I quit I think :( haha - surly it can
Only get better

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fares

15/10/2015 03:33:17 am

How can breathing more oxygen be harmful when you are depressed? It is just in your mind. And yeah I can imagine that you feel more pain after quitting, simply because smoking drugged you...so all the alarms in your body were silent. But now, your back tells you that you have problem so you can try to fix it. There are no cons for quitting smoking. Smoking is the con.

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fares

15/10/2015 03:33:32 am

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Jeri

11/6/2015 02:29:08 am

Funny, honest, and very, very accurate. Thanks. I'm on a new (Lost count of the attempts) Quit, day 5. So this helps a lot. I'm using patches now, but I've had them for a while. I confessed to taking them off when I wanted to smoke, or using them when I knew it would be hard to smoke. I've gone cold turkey a few times, but I had the patches, so why not ensure a safe transition to life as an ex-smoker. I think they are curbing the hunger, for now. Just bought fiber for obvious reasons. Sleep, I'm attacking that bad boy with Melatonin. It was hard enough before, so I'm glad the supplement is helping. I started purging the body a few weeks prior to the quit. How I lived on so little water (or liquid, period) I dont know. I think, when I'm smoking, the signal for thirst is construed as a signal for a cigarette. Also, I began taking vitamins as directed to combat pre-withdrawal, regular crazy life fatigue, so I knew that success with this quit meant not losing an inch to the symptoms. Mind you, I'm irritable. And I have vitamins for that too, but I don't think there's anything that can make a smoker, no matter how long its been, forget "sweet, sweet nicotine." I remember I'd purposely walk through the trail of leftover smoke during a previous non-smoker period of my life. While the rest of my party would look in the typical snobbish disgust at the smoker's remnants, I'd happily walk on through and greet them (silently thanking them for the crumb). At any rate, thanks again Adam.

I was quite comfortable with traditional gas smoker, but then electric cabinet smokers make a robust entrance into the cooking products arena. Now, I feel proud in my decision of switching to the digital electric smokers as these are trouble-free and bring no messiness at all. Oh, the great thing is that I do not have to work more with it.

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Roy

20/6/2015 05:18:56 am

Coca cola taste like s*** when I smoked I used to enjoy it not any more after 4 month of quitting

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Krista

21/6/2015 02:55:15 pm

Funny (and true) account of stopping smoking!
I am on day 13 and I also have experienced the coke thing.
My second worst addiction was diet pepsi and now I can't hardly stand anything except water! Weird.

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Ruby

27/8/2015 07:19:04 pm

I considered myself the coca cola girl, I have all kinds of things in my house, that have coca cola on them. 3 weeks into quitting smoking, I had one, I couldn't believe my taste buds, it SUCKED!!! Now on my 4th week of smoking and I have a appointment next week for a colonoscopy. Oh and I can't forget about the lovely headaches, that I still get from day one. As far as sleeping I don't have a problem going to sleep, but 4 hours later, I'm up and can't get back to sleep. Honestly, if I didn't have COPD, I think I would go back to smoking.

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vanessa

2/2/2016 02:38:34 pm

smoked since i was 8 yrs old im 47.gave up smoking drinking and went on diet 2 weeks ago.week 1 was disturbed badly.week 2 cant sleep more than 4 Hrs and fart all day.people say i look 35,so no insentive id like to start dating but everything smells shit and having never suffered farting before doubt if id get lucky.when does this stop its not cool! occasionally i get hate urges and i darent go to pub as i will want a drink that will lead to cig cravings.oh im eatin sugar free sweets they act as laxitive so im no fun anymore...help.

vanessa

2/2/2016 02:39:33 pm

Tim

3/2/2016 07:41:22 am

Vanessa,

That is normal. Your body is used to smoking and is adjusting and cleaning itself. Just be patient, all the symptoms will eventually subside.

Just remember anything you experience now is far better than the symptoms of all smoking related diseases.

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Scott w

25/6/2015 10:19:08 pm

Well I'm on day 15 ouch !!!! Just want the want gone !!! Now 48 started at prob.16 pack a day I guess this will take a long time to not want one . Good luck to all

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Megan

29/6/2015 09:29:31 pm

Been smoking about 18 years. Have had high blood pressure about ten of them. I know I need to quit for my health. All of these effects hit home. I had Googled "quitting smoking, weird smell". It is musty and smoky and on my skin and in my nose and throat and on my hair. I know it is just me because I'm clean and have asked, too. I am on day 5. Not exactly by choice, currently broke and been laying low at home and I know the price is going to increase immensely and it is a frivolous waste of everything- time, money, looks, health. I also have had some irregularity on the poop front and have only slept an hour in 2 and 1/2 days. I constantly suffer from depression so I don't know if anything is different but if I keep this up I bet I will feel better about myself. All the effort I put into getting money to buy them before I can put into something else, nicer things, going out, emergency fund. I totally agree with the not telling anybody you are stopping thing. People tend to brag about everything on the internet these days and it is a bigger failure if you succumb to temptation again than if nobody had ever known. Good luck, all.

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Jillibean52

5/7/2015 07:38:08 pm

Hi Guys
Okay I stubbed out my first ciggie nearly eight weeks ago cold turkey, I have been smoking for about 45 yrs, this is my 1st attempt, unfortunately I have slipped a couple of times since then but promptly got back onto the program, with all the websites they all say it's gets easier after about 2 weeks well I certainly have not found that to be true, my easiest time was the 1st - 4 weeks now it's just not nice. I am stressing to the max about a business problem and it doesn't matter what I do I can't get my mind off the problem long enough for me to find a solution:0( I have no problem falling asleep but I just cannot stay asleep and wake up and go crazy again with my problem, I am a little bit sleep deprived so that's not helping. I really would like someone else to tell me if they are experiencing similar issues.
I have now decided I really don't want to go backwards so have moved onto patches to see if that helps, my chemist has put me onto vit b executive and also something to help sleep, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this works

You are having so much trouble stopping smoking because the anxiety or anger or whatever emotion you are having related to the business problem causes you to smoke. If you talk to someone who can help you with the business problem, the need to smoke will lessen. When you weren't stressed about the business problem, you said you were okay. Remember, smoking is the mind's answer to a problem. Watch to see what you think about just before you smoke. That is what is causing the problem. Usually there are between 10 -25 typical stresses people have attached to smoking. for example, it will relax me so I can think about things or it will give me a break from the stress or I can stop thinking about it while I smoke. Smoking is all about stresses caused by relating irregularly - a behavior pattern that is not working - and the mind trying to help you handle the problem because it has not got a solution.

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Matt

15/10/2015 02:12:02 pm

Hi Jillibean, thanks for the enquiry.
Mood swings long gone and
I feel a 100 times better, I still seem to have a bit of a stomach thing going on, still a bit sore and taking a sh-t still seems an issue but I now eat so much better, ditched the single mans diet, all healthy and excerise a lot more. I have been to the docs a few times and he feels there's nothing wrong. More tests planned so will update when I know more.
Still no smoking since 1-8-15
I've read so much about quitting and the aftermath and I think it's just our bodies repairing and takes time

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Andre

11/7/2015 11:30:34 pm

88 days 1 hour 15 min 16 seconds since my last smoke! Yay me!!! I just cant wait for all the benefits the "quit" people tell me about. Ok I have more money but thats far out weighed by the absolute rank farts that are ozzzing out of me. I want talk about poo....but the though just makes me sob a little (things are not going so well in that area ).
Yes smoking was/is bad but after 30+ a day for 25 years that was "normal"....this new normal smoke free life is cruel and unusual and im not enjoying it one little bit. :-(

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Matt

13/9/2015 02:17:43 pm

Me too, I did at first but seems to be going backwards, not had a solid sh1t for weeks, constipated daily! Taking laxatives all week! I read will get better and this is just out bodies repairing itself, good luck n well done ! None smoker since August 1st 15

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Matt

13/9/2015 02:17:57 pm

Matt

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Sarita

13/7/2015 04:33:28 am

I laughed so hard from a bathroom stall while on one of my unpredicted trips to the restroom. I quit smoking 6 days ago and have experienced everything you've mentioned!

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Sylvie

14/7/2015 11:34:07 am

This has made me laugh and I am grateful. I have quit now for 86 days. I am proud considering I have smoked for 23 years. I am however depressed at the weight I have gained without eating more. I know this is a small price to pay but it has resulted in me re questioning my quit.
I can't digest food like I use to, I have googled everything g to try and help me stay quit but I am at a point where the gas, the weight gain, the mood swings is driving me crazy.
I need to hear that eventually things will get back to normal, there has to be some people out there that have been through all this but have gotten back to normal.
If there are.......I kinda need to hear from you 😊

Sylvie
The reason you are eating more is that the mind is starting to switch addictions so instead of comforting you with cigarettes which it knows you do not want to do, it is comforting you with food. Instead of Comfort Smoking it is switching to Comfort Eating. The way to stop this is by finding the root cause of the reasons for smoking. People smoke for about 10 to 15 typical reasons and then they have a few specific reasons that are deeper. A typical reason would be, for example, "I smoke to take a break." The root cause of this might be that the person doesn't value self enough to give self a break so if they didn't smoke, they would never get a break. The mind tries to help out seeing that a break is needed so it says: "Take a break for a cigarette" which the person then does under the idea other people get to take a cigarette break so it is okay if I do.
A deeper reason might be: I smoked when I found out my ex lied to me because I was so devastated. The deeper reason is related to being devastated about lies and then using smoking as comfort.
People use smoking as comfort in many situations. I have seen people who had 25 different reasons for smoking. But the interesting thing is that usually they all go back to times of upset in relationships where the person didn't understand why they were hurt nor how to repair things nor how to not let such a thing happen again.
Smoking is NOT about loving cigarettes. It is about comforting yourself with them. On the outside it looks like the person loves cigarettes - though interestingly lots of people don't even love cigarettes - and even they still smoke - because they are trapped by their emotions.
Why do people who are dying from cigarette smoking keep smoking? Because they don't know how to be comforted through building good relationships. They mainly have known painful relationships so their only trusty friend that they can depend on is a cigarette. That is truly Comfort Smoking: Their mind has a thought like the world is crazy out there, but I'm okay with my cigarette. It won't hurt me.
How can someone get their need for cigarettes handled? By handling their distressing relationships. Find a good Hypnotherapist who does Stop Smoking, but be sure they require at least 5 hours of session work and that they do "root cause." Not all of them do. You can be told to hate cigarettes with Hypnosis without getting your root causes handled so be sure to find someone who does "root cause" (of emotional pain).
If you are young, you will get double purpose out of doing Stop Smoking this way as you will not only stop smoking, but you will learn what behaviors cause you pain and distress and how to deal with them. Your life will get better.
Search for a Hypnotherapist through finding a Hypnotherapy Association in your area on google. The associations require a certain amount of education before they will accept a Hypnotherapist so that's good. They will have a directory of people in different states. Pick one near you and call them to see if you are comfortable with how they do things and with how you feel when you talk to them. If not, call a different one.
Think about it like this: You will get your smoking handled, your relationships improved and you won't switch to eating (or drinking or another addiction) - if you do, call the Hypnotherapist and tell them so they can help you stop that.
It is very sad for me to hear how smokers are suffering when they needn't. This is an opportunity for you to not just stop smoking, but to learn about your issues that hurt you and make relating difficult so you can do healthy relating and live an exceptional life which means one with tons of love coming your way and with tons of your love flowing to others!
Best Wishes, LeAnn

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Frances

15/7/2015 11:14:45 am

I quit cigarettes cold turkey 9 days ago. I was only pissy yesterday. But other days I just cried spontaneously. I smoked for 23 years. My mouth tastes like dog crap all the time. Food has no flavor or tastes bad but I want to eat constantly in evening. I lost 35 lbs before quit so I eat healthy and exercise a lot...bike ride 8 miles..then go to gym. I've gained 2 lbs..wtf? I have terrible gas and seem to like to poop in early evening If I do at all...I take sleeping pills as I am disable veteran with PTSD but wake up early...this was funny to read..glad I'm not alone in all this..wish I could be funny right now..lol

The first 3 nights couldn't sleep but was determined not to give in. Desperately googled for a sleep aid but wanted something natural. Then bumped into a post about 5 HTP.

None of the 'natural' remedies ever work for me but I took 100 mg of 5 HTP and while staring at the ceiling in bed I thought 'Yup, just another placebo type thing that won't work'. Next thing I recall is waking up 7 hours later feeling totally refreshed (not 'foggy') and to my complete surprise, cravings for cigs/booze almost disappeared!

Now 6 weeks later found 100 mg's of HTP (am/pm) not necessary so take 50 mg in am/pm. Was determined to quit no matter what but 5 HTP really helped both getting sleep and reducing cravings.

One caution - if taking any SSRI's / anti-depressants etc, do NOT take 5 HTP as it may induce serotonin oversupply.

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Goatsy

20/7/2015 03:39:32 am

Adam,

You are so right about discovering that you smell like shit.

I am so paranoid! How long have I smelled like this? Ughhh...

>_<

- Goatsy

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David Walker

23/7/2015 05:13:07 pm

Wow. Finally someone who writes truthfully of this experience. I have to concur 100% with all statements. It is eerie how similar to my experiences this is. Especially the insomnia part.
86 days no smoking and each of these things I experience each day.

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Everybody Poops (except me!)

24/7/2015 05:59:51 pm

Misery loves company and being on day 5 (or is it 6 now - it's hard to tell when you no longer sleep) I set out to look for others with the same irregularity problems that I am suffering. Although your post had be literally "lol" I am completely envious of what you deem as regular problems - your regular problems are like listening to the guy who says he has insomnia because it takes home 20 minutes to call asleep - what I wouldn't give to have to throw this phone away to run to...... False alarm!

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Jenocide

30/7/2015 12:24:19 pm

Thanks for this article. Very funny and very accurate. I got here by googling "why I stink from quitting smoking". Holy shitballs, I hope I have not been this bad the whole time. My boyfriend never mentions it, but now I am paranoid and thinking he is just being being polite.

I need to quit because he does not like it, and frankly I don't either. It has been a coping mechanism for nearly 10 years and not one that I am proud of. I took the measure of telling folks at work that I am quitting and informing all my old smoking pals that I will no longer be joining them. It is really hard, but I keep telling myself it will be worth it.

Good luck to all on their journey to a smoke-free life. To the author and all the commenters, thank you for your honest words!

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Lilli

31/7/2015 05:28:24 am

I need an update...do you still not smoke?

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Leo

4/8/2015 09:39:17 am

I smoked 1 pack a day for 15 years and quit 4 months ago. I'm still hungry all dam day! i hate it. Also, I've developed a smoker's cough months after i quit. I thought i was supposed to be stronger, but i certainly don't feel that way.

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Jody

12/8/2015 02:31:17 am

I quit smoking 4 weeks ago, after 23 plus years. I don't notice any difference with smell yet. But, my husband quit smoking over a year and a half ago and he keeps asking me if he smells. He keeps changing deodorant. I've even got right in there and smelled his pit and it was fine, no smell. So, I would say that thinking that you stink really isn't true. You probably smell fine. But, I guess this never goes away and now I know why. For me, I have the constipation issue and I'm exhausted... no energy and feel like I can sleep all the time. I also feel at times that I could cry at the drop of a hat. I've been using the patch and e-cig. I take a benedryl to sleep. The patch helps with the symptoms especially the anger and the e-cig helps with the habit. I'm a very picky eater, I don't like much. Some of the foods I didn't like when I was young, I eat now. I'm afraid that if my taste changes that I won't like some of the foods anymore, especially the ones that are good for you. Love this blog, thanks to everyone for sharing. Now I know why I feel this way!!!

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Tina

12/8/2015 09:42:59 pm

Wow...I laughed and felt good and happy all at the same time now reading this.
I am on day 9!! Yes, after 21 years, only day 9. All is well, except I sat on the toilet for about an hour last night, waiting for something to happen because it feels like I'm about to pop.
Then, my tongue!! What is wrong with my tongue?? It is as if my tongue (and not my lungs) is expecting something, there is a fuzziness, a hollowness, I find it difficult to describe, I want something there at the back of my tongue...is this a craving for the nicotine??

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alina

19/8/2015 01:53:46 pm

I am 4 days in and I hate it I think I might go buy smokes tomorrow although this post did make me laugh. It's true I haven't slept I'm hungry all the time I can't poop and I'm crabby. Not to mention that weird tingly annoying kinda painful feeling you get when you don't have nicotine. Makes me panic.

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Anna

25/8/2015 09:20:25 pm

So true Adam!
Thank you for that. I am smoke free day 15 and I was just wondering if this is what world stinks or if its just me being oversensitive. I smell nice though:) And the hunger? WTF? How long is that gonna last? If I gain any more weight Iam done with this quitting nonsence:)

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Von

2/9/2015 09:58:30 pm

Thank you the truth is what I need to hear. This is only my 2nd day and nothing smells good this morning not even my house

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toni

9/9/2015 04:59:48 am

I thought that was brilliant as I was worried use to go to loo every morning only been stopped smoking 4 days and don't seem to go as often that's for advice like the straight talking

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bUzzb33

10/9/2015 01:33:04 pm

Ughhh... never thought about the smell! But I think I don't stink, (or never told me yet) hah!

Anyway, quitting smoke is mostly about the right mindsetting. 16 years of smoking and tried all those professional advice, nicotine patches, nicotine gums, etc. but all those were not good enough for me.

But right, I am 42 days 15 hours FREE from smoke and nicotine, I found this good stuff when searching, but this might not work for everyone though... Just telling that http://goo.gl/htyGbN helped me through my struggles of going from 40+ stick/day to ZERO. This might help somebody too.

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SplittingHairs

12/9/2015 12:52:42 pm

It's true. No one tells you about the real effects smoking has on your body in the first place. Why the hell would they tell you the whole truth when you get the sense to quit?

I quit in January of 2015. That doesn't mean I don't light up or chew occasionally, it means I no longer smoke a pack every day...or even one cigarette once a week. I am clean'ish.

I used to be on a pretty strict no sugar--low carb diet, I was very successful with it and felt amazing (except for the normal respiratory shit that comes with lighting up).

These are my truths since that fateful choice to quit:

1. Working out is a pain in the ass.
2. I don't run as fast as I used to.
3. Lethargy up the ass.
4. Personality of a wolverine with an enormous hemorrhoid that's about to burst.
5. Food tastes like shit most of the time but I can't eat enough of it.
6. In spite of #5, I could eat ice cream for every meal
7. My whole body feels like it's constantly sore.
8. I don't think it's possible to have enough sex to make up for the loss of smoking.
9. Well, #8 might be easier if I was still in my twenties when I looked much better because it now takes so much more effort.see #3.
10. Cigarette smoke really smells like burning crotch rot or foot odor.
11. Lighting up in the first place is such an enormously bad choice.

In other words, Class--it's time to pay the Piper. Bend over, keep calm and let the consequences of past behavior repay you for the stupidity of your youth!

Sincerely,

I just wanna shoot you or screw you...in some cases, both.

PS: Great site!

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mccart

13/9/2015 02:42:20 pm

I am here to give testimony of how i got back my husband, we got married for over 9 years and we had two kids. thing were going well with us and we where always happy. until one day my husband started to behave in a way i could not understand, i was very confused by the way he treated me and the kids. later that month he did not come back home again and he called me that he want a divorce, i asked him what have i done wrong to deserve this from him, all he was saying is that he want a divorce that he hate me and do not want to see me again in his life, i was mad and also frustrated do not know what to do,i was sick for more than 2 weeks because of the divorce. i love him so much he was everything to me without him my life is incomplete. i told my sister and she told me to contact a spell caster, i never believe in all this spell casting of a thing. i just want to try if something will come out of it. i contacted traditional spell hospital for the return of my husband to me, they told me that my husband have been taken by another woman, that she cast a spell on him that is why he hate me and also want us to divorce. then they told me that they have to cast a spell on him that will make him return to me and the kids, they casted the spell and after 1 week my husband called me and he told me that i should forgive him, he started to apologize on phone and said that he still live me that he did not know what happen to him that he left me. it was the spell that he casted on him that make him come back to me. my family and i are now happy again. Thank you Dr. Aluta for what you have done for me i would have been nothing today if not for your great spell. i want you my friends who are passing through all this kind of love problem of getting back their husband, wife , or ex boyfriend and girlfriend to contact traditionalspellhospital@gmail.com and you will see that your problem will be solved without any delay. He cast spells for different purposes

I get that you are letting off steam and it is tough to stop smoking. Every time I hear the suffering people go through from cigarette smoking it makes me angry that people were hood-winked into it in the first place with enticing words and images. But, know this, people who get an addiction, any addiction, have issues underlying it. If they are not handled, then another addiction takes its place.

From your email, it says to me that food and sex are where the mind would like to go to escape. It's like this: The mind gets a feeling - like I feel ___________ - then, it tries to soothe the person with an escape activity.

It's pretty awesome for you to try to stop smoking. But cigarettes do not cause the smoking, just like gambling tables do not cause a gambling addiction and food does not cause over-eating (or everyone would over-eat). The emotional pain in the mind causes smoking or gambling or over-eating or over-drinking, etc.

So you have done half the work by stopping smoking. The other half is that you need to find your issues and release them.

The issues will all be about relating to yourself and others.

The anger related to stopping smoking is at not being able to escape to a cigarette. That can be released via the mind so you could stop without it.

The wanting sex is likely related to an issue of wanting to be close to someone, but not being able to emotionally be close. Smoking was the pacifier when you got that feeling. Now the mind wants to pacify you in another way - by the closeness of sex which is not a true closeness without emotional connection.

The hunger for food is related to wanting to be close to someone too so instead of emotional smoking, it becomes emotional eating.

See, there is a rhyme and reason for why people smoke. In a nutshell: It is escaping emotional pain - some of the pain is simple like "boredom" or "I need a break from work" but some of the pain really hurts like feeling abandoned or not loved or left out or made fun of or being unwanted.

The number of times a person needs a cigarette in a day tells how often their mind needs to escape a hurt in a day!

LeAnn

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Tommy

25/9/2015 05:54:24 am

I totally thought my sense of smell and bowl cycle was screwed up. Who knew that people actually smell weird. It's pretty annoying quiting smoking, but the negatives of not smoking far outweigh the negatives of smoking. Yes I'm posting this in my bathroom on a random bowl movement wondering why I still smell weird even though I literally just showered.

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Laura

2/10/2015 01:01:36 pm

I am a week in to weining myself- and this is some very true shit. Almost worth the risk when the smells invade. I have a good nose either way and my shower times have increased tenfold and I am already breaking my pants. :(

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George Barnett

3/10/2015 08:37:08 am

Look there is another point. There are millions of smokers in the world, all at great risk. Suppose half of these millions continue smoking till the rest of their life, so what would be the outcome. Obviously, they would be living an unhealthy and fatal life. So what to do?

Although there is no ultimate panacea to the health evils of smoking, some health experts suggest that we can reduce its malignant effects only if we apply some good health tips, adopt best diet plans, use recommended foods and herbs, while at the same time keep on struggling to fight its cravings out. A double-edged strategy based on quit smoking approach and health and fitness strategy have given wonderful results. Read more
http://www.amazon.com/Smoking-Comprehensive-Preventing-Cessation-Addiction-ebook/dp/B00VCYPW2E/ref=sr12?ie=UTF8&qid=1442653161&sr=8-2&keywords=smoking

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Leah

5/10/2015 12:09:57 am

I just want to say that I loved this #1 and #2 never tell the co-workers....at least I shouldn't have. So here is my story. Started Chantix a month ago and life was so ducky the 1st week. Day by day the amount I smoked was less and less so I was thrilled. Considering I am 34 and have smoked since I was so young that it would only be acceptable in Russia this was huge progress. Then came week two and the side affects of full strength crazy pills....... I NEVER SLEPT !!!!! Not like oh it takes hours to fall asleep noooooooo I was that crazy bitch out of the movie The Ring. When my husband came home and I was standing on the porch looking out at nothing we decided that the rest of the pills were waste management bound. It has taken another 2 weeks to detox. That is where the co-workers come in. They find it funny that I am quitting and do loving things such as leave a half smoked cigarette in my desk drawer..... I never really considered homicide before but you know it sounds nice..... I hope this lays off soon

Leah
You said you started smoking when you were so young. That usually means the real core reason for your smoking sits back there. If you remembered that reason and understood it now as an adult and forgave the person who gave you pain that made you want to escape to a cigarette, it would be MUCH easier to stop smoking. Other people who stop smoking without any trouble don't have a painful feeling that made them smoke. Usually a painful reason at a young age might be one of these types of feelings: alone, abandoned, left out, unloved, overlooked, not important, like a nobody, etc. The pills you took are designed to "zone you out" so you don't think about painful things (then you won't smoke until you stop taking the pill and then think about painful things), but unfortunately they seem to make people sick in a variety of ways even to the point of very negative thoughts that the person would never have normally. One day people will "get it" that emotions trigger emotional pain so the person turns to an escape addiction.

Leann

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Roby

8/10/2015 02:02:13 am

Good read thanks. I thought I was the only one suffering from these symptoms. My Dr thinks I'm nuts I've had every medical test you can think of and they all come back normal. Everything smells so bad I have a hard time eating. I used to smoke around 40 a day for around 40 yrs. I gave it up cold turkey 9 months ago. I feel better after reading everyone's experiences. Many thanks.

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Stace Bruno

10/10/2015 02:05:57 am

How i got my boyfriend back.My name is Stacey Bruno.I never believed in love spells or magic until I met this spell caster once when i went to see my friend in Indian this year on a business summit. I meant a man who's name is Dr ATILA he is really powerful and could help cast spells to bring back one's gone, lost, misbehaving lover and magic money spell or spell for a good job or luck spell .I'm now happy & a living testimony cos the man i had wanted to marry left me 5 weeks before our wedding and my life was upside down cos our relationship has been on for 3years. I really loved him, but his mother was against us and he had no good paying job. So when i met this spell caster, i told him what happened and explained the situation of things to him. At first i was undecided,skeptical and doubtful, but i just gave it a try. And in 7 days when i returned to Canada, my boyfriend (now husband) called me by himself and came to me apologizing that everything had been settled with his mom and family and he got a new job interview so we should get married. I didn't believe it cos the spell caster only asked for my name and my boyfriends name and all i wanted him to do. Well we are happily married now and we are expecting our little kid, and my husband also got the new job and our lives became much better. His email is atilahealinghome@yahoo.com

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fares

14/10/2015 09:41:57 am

The problem with most people who quit smoking that they feel that they gave up something which they think has positive sides. That's why quitting is a long or even endless journey for most. My personal experience is that I read Easy way to stop smoking for Allen Carr and since then I have never craved a cigarette.

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Andrew

16/10/2015 12:08:32 am

Nothing smells as bad as a smoker.. I have recently been able to get out of the house of a chain smoker, where I was trapped due to the cost of renting. I was utterly depressed and constantly ill with headaches and anything I owned started to smell of cancerous chemicals . If you smoke , you are a moron, an utter dummkopf - and smokers are among the most inconsiderate people, belching out the acrid poison from their cancer sticks whereever you walk, thank God they are now banned from doing it indoors... Freedom from the death cloud!!!

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Tony

20/10/2015 02:07:48 am

Typed "quit smoking and gained weight" into google and got a lot of official bullshit for doctor type people who never smoked. Saw you blog and thought Yah, someone is experiencing the same shit as me. Yep, poops, sleeping, eating

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Adam

2/11/2015 02:35:27 am

It has been about 3 weeks since i have smoked my last cigarette. the only problem that i have now is that i cant concentrate on things that much and i easily forget things. Also my eyes became weak and i feel very tired, Is this normal or i have to go to the doctor?

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Matt

2/11/2015 01:12:21 pm

Hey, I was exactly the same, felt so tired, eyes heavy and watering. Felt drained all the time and yea was hard to concentrate. It passes and you'll feel brand new, just roll with it, have early nights if need to. Before you know it'll pass and you'll know it was worth it

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SplittingHairs

2/11/2015 03:00:35 pm

Yes, all of that fits. Get the extra sleep if you need it. You really have to "be extra effing nice to yourself" and understand that it'll be a while until you feel close to normal. Lots of water. Eat when you're hungry. If you don't exercise already, start walking. Small steps, Adam.

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Adam

2/11/2015 05:22:01 pm

Ey thanks guys i was a bit worried about this thing. Well i just have to wait for a while to get better,

Matt

2/11/2015 03:36:37 pm

Also, just to add, I felt down and pretty depressed for 2-3 weeks, was in a bad mood quite a lot, no patience etc. I did feel like I needed to smoke to snap out of this but I didn't and feel great for sticking with it.
If you read all these comments everyone is different and seem to know it all, you just gotta stick with it and you'll feel mint and you won't see it coming. I think a lot of it depends on what you smoke and for how long form and seeing as everyone is totally different it's hard to say when you'll be right. 3 months for me, seems forever but it's worth it. It still hard though when I'm out and I smell the smoke but fcuk starting the 3 months again !

Yes, it really takes alot to time and mostly patience to quit smoking. I spend most of my free time mountain climbing.

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Alison

6/11/2015 07:28:56 pm

You're funny! I recently just quit but I bought a vaporizer just to help the process, I barely use it. But a few things, like you mentioned, I found have been happening to me. However, I had to webMD some of my symptoms because naturally I think everything is wrong with me. But 2 things I absolutely noticed was my blood sugar. I would feel dizzy and naseous and felt like I couldn't concentrate. And the second was the pooping! I was on a beautiful schedule too and now it's so difficult :/ I guess I didn't realize what an effect it would have on my body but still give myself a pat on the back for quitting!

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Kollette

14/11/2015 07:10:46 am

I saw it mentioned that smoking releases dopamine, or the "fight or flight" hormone, and that because of this us smokers are in constant fight or flight mode. But, did any of you know that when dopamine is released, other hormone production is either ceased, or greatly limited? Dopamine is meant to be for that extra burst of energy one needs to get out of the way of a speeding train, or save a baby from falling off a cliff. Dopamine heightens senses and increases reaction times, but it does this by shutting down other functions. The reason we aren't really hungry after smoking, is because dopamine dedicates the energy needed for non-life essential functions to the task at hand. You aren't worried about a cheeseburger when you're busy running from Freddy Krueger, right? Over time, we have trained ourselves to poop when dopamine is in our systems. We have trained our bodies to function properly, in the presence of dopamine. Also, our bodies produce melatonin naturally, but be have trained melatonin to be released only in the presence of dopamine. This is why we find our senses have been dulled once we quit, our bodies have been trained to always be heightened and aware, because dopamine is always present. Depression and anxiety are natural, once dopamine is no longer being released every few hours. I'm sure you can remember back before you started smoking, to a harrowing experience that left you drained and needing a nap, once the "fight or flight" instinct wore off. Our bodies receive nutrition from food, the sun and other sources, but those vitamins, minerals and hormones must be regulated and it usually happens by the release of certain hormones that control that regulation. Dopamine is always going to be the dominant hormone, reducing all the others to a mere fraction of what they should be. When dopamine (the boss of all the others) is no longer present, the other hormones don't really know what to do and either do nothing or go all wonky on us.

The #1 thing ALL of you need to do, is have your vitamin D levels checked, as a deficiency in this vitamin is almost a given when you quit smoking, as hormones are essential to its synthesis. We get melanin from the sun (but only a little, in each area), then all the melanin we have received, comes together to be distributed amongst other tissues, organs and functions. Vitamin D is made in this process. Common side effects of vitamin D deficiency are sleeplessness, joint/bone pain, fatigue, depression/anxiety/mood disorders, constipation/diarreah (IBS), hair loss, skin pigmentation issues and skin "lesion" issues (acne).

Number #2, have your ferritin levels checked. A doctor might tell you that your iron levels are normal, but specifically request ferritin levels and do not be deterred. Hormones are essential in converting iron to ferritin, which is the body's stored form of iron and is needed for hair follicles and skin tissues.

Number 3, take lots and lots of vitamin C supplementation, as this is the most essential vitamin in the body, and helps boost the immune system. Our immune systems have begun to function at peak when dopamine is present. When we take it away, it can take a very long time to get back to functioning correctly without dopamine. This is why some of us get sick easier after quitting. Personally, I had never had the flu in my life, but shortly after quitting, I had the worst flu I had ever seen in my life and it took 3 months after getting over it, to get over the "post viral fatigue". I also had many other viruses and sicknesses. In the presence of all of these vitamins, it can get back to capacity much faster.

For me, it wasn't the smoking, it was the habit of reaching for a smoke. There was no pattern, there was no "stress" just before picking one up, there were none of these things. My brain was telling my body that it needed dopamine, in order to regulate function, as this is basically what I had trained it to do. Smoking wasn't even a thought for me. I had smoked for 19 years and never was worrie about quitting, I didn't necessarily "want" to. I enjoyed smoking, I still do. I quit using the vapor cigs, the correct way. Start at 24mg nicotine level if you smoke a pack or more a day. Get used to picking up the ecig, rather than lightig an actual cigarette. When you find yourself instinctively reaching for the ecig, and thinking less about smoking, give it another month, then drop down to 18-20mg nicotine liquid. Stick with this for a few months and then step down again. I didn't smoke cigarettes for 1.5 years, and only used the ecig for one year. I began smoking again once a week when my sister-in-law came over, and did this for a month and didn't crave one at all in between. One week she didn't come over, and I found myself "dying" for a smoke. I tried my ecig and the tank on both would not work and the store where I could buy a new tank was already closed, so rather than just going to bed or chewing some gum; I bought a pack. Thi

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Adam

7/12/2015 04:59:12 pm

Hey guys its me again,

Its been a while now but now i have this stomach discomfort. Is it normal? i dont have any other symptoms left now.

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Adam

8/12/2015 06:23:46 am

Hey guys its been a while since i have smoked a cig. But its been about 4 days that i have difficulty pooping. Like i remember the doctor said its normal but can anyone relate? and how did you guys treated it haha.

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Jo

2/1/2016 09:06:08 am

Hello. I quit 10/18/2015 after 30 years of 1-2 packs per day. I felt like a million bucks at first but now feel like ass all day long. I had an accident in August that has left me with some aches and pains and am also premenopausal (at 40.... sucks balls), so I am unsire of what symptom is coming from what situation. My biggest issue, for these days at least, is this weird pinpoint sensation in my left chest. It is not really a pain, more like an annoyance. There is nothing that brings it on or makes it go away...it just comes and goes. The other issue is this messed up bilateral upper arm ache/burn that has been with me the past couple weeks. I have no health insurance, but doctors as of late have been a joke anyway....I think the wind has been knocked out of their sails and they don't give a shit anymore...but I went to a chiro who basically told me I either have a systemic illness, anxiety (no shit Sherlock), or I overanalyze aka am a hypo. Has anyone else had anything similar to these 2 symptoms? I have pretty much every single other one that has been mentioned here, but these 2 I cannot seem to figure out. If it was from my accident, wouldn't I have been hurting in my upper arms since the accident and not 4 months later?

I appreciate any input and kudos to all who have quit and are trying to quit. It's a bitch that puts in-laws to shame.

Hi Jo, Just some more info for you - from a different point of view - Hypnosis.
1. That weird pinpoint sensation is coming and going because the mind could be being reminded of something related to the accident and then if forgets about it and you do something that again reminds the mind about the accident - that is if it happened starting at the time of the accident. If the doctors give you a clear nothing physically wrong, some subconscious mind work will relieve that.
2. The same for the aches and pains - after a dr. checkup, if they remain, you can let them heal with time or use subconscious mind work to make things go faster.
3. Early menopause - from a Hypnosis point of view - could have a mind component too. It depends on what symptoms you are having.
4. An upper arm/ache/burn can be improved with mind work, believe it or not! Lots of times people have a mind issue so the problem won't stop no matter what the doctors do.
5. Systemic illness can be improved via subconscious mind work as can anxiety. Most people don't know this. By the time I see a lot of people these days, the doctors have the person of 3 or more medications sometimes for so-called anxiety alone and are getting even more anxiety from all the meds.
6. You could have started to hurt four months after the accident because something you are doing at four months reminds your mind of the accident. If that is so, it doesn't take long to release that via the mind.
7. Quitting smoking is about noticing the emotional upsets you have just before you smoke. Since you were smoking 1-2 packs a day, that tells me that's how many times your mind thought you needed comfort. Smoking is comfort eating only substituting the smoking for the eating. Those emotional cravings can be stopped so stopping smoking is not hell. Sometimes the comfort is simple - you need to take a break so the mind reminds you to have a cigarette so you will take one. Sometimes the comfort is trickier to pinpoint - as it could be the upset of a car accident - just thinking about it and needing comfort. Or a divorce. Just thinking about either one even if they were a long time ago, can trigger the upsetting emotions so the subconscious mind will try to comfort you with a cigarette. If you are down from 1 -2 packs a day to nothing, that is quite an accomplishment, in my opinion, but if you want to feel better rather than like ass all day long, you need to deal with the emotional reasons for smoking and release yourself from the cravings by releasing the unresolved emotions. Overanalyzers commonly are good-hearted and want to resolve things so they think and think and think about how to do so. But they need the information about relating that stops painful relating - then they can stop without so much emotional pain being in their face. Think emotional upset = smoking. And I need to escape (something) such as boredom, work, a person, etc = smoking break.
LeAnn

Damn them all ....I'm so angry, all the time, I eat like a madman,can't properly use the bathroom and i feel like killing someone when he/she pass by me with a cigg in their hand....misery ...But I'm glad in away that I'm not alone in this .
3 days now w/o smoke
All of you keep it going it will be fine..eventualy
Thank you Adam for it

Hi
This is a great article! I've been smoke free for 42 days. This is the first time I've ever been this successful (in 32 years) and it feels really good!

Got my teeth cleaned, and mentioned to the dentist that I noticed two hours after brushing it felt like fuzz/grime on my teeth, but when I smoked, it never felt like that!
I've also noticed my voice changing.

I finally sleep all night (not every night yet) but what wakes me in the middle of the night is stomach/back aches?? The only thing that helps is getting up and moving around.

The funniest part of this article for me was the hunger all day, all the time, I thought it was just me.
Lots of salad and water/fluids helped me.

Really great read! Thanks.
Katie

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Lee

20/1/2016 10:32:31 am

going on day 5 with both my wife and I not smoking after each of us smoking for at least 25 years each. So far we have broken 1 fitbit, several glass cups, a washing machine, and have debated whether or not to continue our marriage, although the whole dealing with other peoples shit doesn't seem appealing we will probably stay together. My problem is we both have been running for about 6 months and after one week of not smoking i'm afraid to go out for my hour run during lunch time. I'm pooping more than a turkey on a molases diet here. I'm afraid to fart or stand up to quickly and I have learned to not only bring in an extra set of clothing but that brown slacks are now my favorite color. I'm reading how alot of people are not able to go poop but i'm on the opposite side of the spectrum here. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If this continues i will have to have anal reconstruction surgery this shit sucks.

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Georgia

3/2/2016 07:07:11 pm

Here has been my 8 day experience so far not smoking but using nicotine patch (smoked for 29 years).

Days 1 and 2 - this isn't so bad, cleaned house and stayed super busy
Days 3 and 4 - lost all appetite, puked 4 times day 3, twice day 4 - completely unable to focus eyes (felt drunk) could only sleep until the cough took over or i had to pee, legs started hurting from being so stagnant - literally laid in bed and still couldn't get up except to clean self of excretions - once was woken up by nausea so puked down my chest, the covers, and the bed, with a mouthful of it made it to the restroom just to release more - revolting
Day 4 - 8 - food doesn't taste right, pepsi tastes horrible and it was my lone drink, drinking water but have to pee every 15 minutes now, able to focus eyes now but coughing persists even with being propped up so sleep is rare - can't make it to dream states (and you would know with the intense patch dreams)
Days 3 - 8 - constantly hot then cold, often get shaky chills like running a fever but aren't

The worst part is the food - mac and cheese doesn't even taste right - nor corndogs - no comfort foods taste like they should. Either all I taste is salt or it's like my mouth dries out eating and I chew on something so long the texture makes me want to start puking again. I can only taste sugar from some things and not sugar from others - pepsi, taffy (no sweet taste) - cinnamon roll, chocolate covered almond (has sweet taste)
Oh but just because I can't stand to eat - that doesn't mean my stomach doesn't nag me constantly TO eat. Today I've eaten potato salad twice, a can of green beans, a can of pineapple, 2 mint oreos, the top pastry from one half of a hot pocket (very slowly because it was like chewing salt and did that mushy texture thing so forced it down with water then had to stop with the savory food once I felt nausea again). Even with eating - this body still wants more and makes it feel like I've eaten NOTHING. There's no point in me eating if I'll just throw it up.

I go through a roll of paper towels a day on coughed up gunk and have to sleep with them because the coughing is constant laying down. Of course all the coughing makes your stomach muscles sore too. And there is the occasional pee or fart that comes out because you are pushing so hard during the cough.

I feel so much worse not smoking than I ever did smoking BUT I am trying really hard to believe that all this sickness will pass...

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Tim

4/2/2016 04:32:44 pm

Unfortunately your body is adjusting to not smoking. Symptoms will subside and then come back, but eventually they will all go away.

Just remember that the mild symptoms you have now are far better than anything you will deal with from a smoking related disease.

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adam

5/2/2016 03:35:34 pm

so i quit smoking 35 days ago yay now i'm fucking miserable and drink 16 beers a night just to fall asleep any advise?

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Mat

7/2/2016 06:25:44 am

I felt the same for about 2 months, bad or no sleep, no appetite at best, aches and pains everywhere, headaches, felt sick, grumpy as fk, mood swings all the time but it just your body and mind repairing itself after all the punishment we did to it through smoking all that shtt and chemicals!
I ate fruit and veg and drank loads of water and eventually I felt great and my sleeping got all back to normal and I sleep straight through now! Happy days!! Keep at it and keep positive!
Why smoke when its actually killing you

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Bluzulu

20/2/2016 10:22:42 pm

Not to gross you out or anything, but one of the reasons you're always hungry is because you probably have parasites your system. Look online how to naturally kill and eliminate them. Clove, black walnut, wormwood etc. Happy cleansing lol.

Smoking is not good for health. The non-smoker should have to motivate the smoker to quit smoking. Smoking in public places, are not only affected our body but also affects other people. Please stop the smoking and safe your life.

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Cindy

9/3/2016 09:52:32 am

I replied to the first comment on here, because I didn't see this part until afterwards! My comment is under John's post. :)

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Emily

15/3/2016 09:05:25 pm

Helllllllp! I quit Feb 1st, a shave not been able to poop on my own since.... I tried ALL natural remedies, all foods that were helpful to others, everything, and the ONLY thing that works are suppositories (which I would rather not use, ever) when will this Coke back to me... It's making me an emotionally wreck

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Matt

16/3/2016 03:30:16 pm

Hahah it's sooo bad ha!
But it'll get back to normal any day now... Don't worry.
I used laxatived, had to but then was fine

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Emily

17/3/2016 08:13:39 pm

Ok so a month and a half of no go is normal?... How long did it take you to NOT need laxatives?? I'm losin my mind and my cool :)

Emily

17/3/2016 08:12:31 pm

And AWFUL at spelling ;)

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Matt

18/3/2016 02:57:08 am

It wasn't quite a month maybe a couple of weeks, drink loads of water and high fibre diet?
It will happen, just be ready hahaha
(Just a heads up, you will be seeing some huge turds hahah)

Thanks for your post about giving up smoking. At last - something online that sounds fair dinkum from a real person and not the cold typical, analytical writings from a computer generated wizard.

I can testify to your thoughts, and appreciate the humour. I stopped smoking 6 weeks go yesterday after having smoked for over 40 years and like you, no patches or gum or e cigarettes.

Good for you and keep it up, hope I can keep it up too.

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k

30/3/2016 01:09:36 pm

it's been 1 week. I am so happy it scares me :)) :O And I am sleepy all the time. And now i dont see the reason of drinking coffee anymore :O

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Pam

7/4/2016 12:34:02 pm

I am so glad I found this page. I am over 5 months smoke free and I am nauseated over smells that no one else smells. I was seriously going to go to the doctor to see if I had a brain tumor or something seriously wrong with me. I am not liking this at all. Will I get used to smells so that I feel normal again? I feel like this is really disrupting my life.

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Jolinda

7/4/2016 09:25:36 pm

I am also at about 5-1/2 months out now, and I am just barely starting to feel kinda sorta normal. I have had all different types of 'ordeals' since I quit and have been convinced that I had damn near every cancer in existence, along with a brain tumor. Aches and pains in parts of my body I did not know existed. Still waiting to go potty normally (this was a very delayed reaction by the way), and there were times where I literally thought I was going to die. I have an anxiety and panic disorder so I am sure that helped alot. Just hang in there because it does gradullay get better. It does not hurt to talk to your doc to get a peace of mind though. A brain tumor would more than likely have been manifesting many more symptoms by now besides enhanced smell. Congratulations on your 5 months. That is dedication.

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Pam

8/4/2016 05:34:42 am

Thanks for responding Jolinda. Congrats to you also. I am so proud of us for hanging in.

Hi,Buddy
Thank you for your information.I make a decision that I will quit smoking. This comment will be the mark. I will be comment again if I success.

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Barry

1/5/2016 08:35:56 pm

Hi all,

I was a pack per day smoker for 25 years, and will hit 6 weeks of being smoke-free this Wednesday. I have been using an electronic cigarette to help me get through any serious cravings, but last week have cut that down to 3-4 times per day (4 or so puffs each time), low nicotine strength liquid. In 2 more weeks I will drop to zero strength, and eventually get rid of the e-cig too.

But as many of you probably know, nicotine is only one of the addictive things in cigarettes. It's a virtual concoction of not so wonderful things that create dependency.

So anyways, not to bore you... here are some of my experiences:

1) The electronic cig helps but is no replacement. You still get serious cravings.
2) However, the cravings for me as a 25-year smoker started to get less intense about two weeks ago, at the one month mark (or so).
3) I've had irregular bowel movements, up to and including bad diarrhea twice in the past month. Fortunately it passed (each time) after a few hours. After diarrhea I did not poop for 5-6 days, but that's not abnormal from what I hear.
4) I've had no increase in appetite, at all. I did the math and my e-cig is roughly a third of the nicotine that I used to get from analogs, so I would think that if I was gonna start getting hungry, it should have already started.
5) I'm drinking 7-8 tall glasses of water today, sometimes with lemon juice. Perhaps this is why I'm not getting hungry all the time?
6) No difference sleeping, really. A couple times I woke up an hour or so earlier than normal, but falling asleep and getting decent rest hasn't been a problem.
7) I've had a little congestion from around the third day I stopped smoking, and still have a little now. I cough up a bit of smokers phlegm now and again, but it's less now than it was initially.
8) Sense of smell started to return around day four. It's not all the way back, but I've noticed pleasant and unpleasant things that I didn't smell when I was smoking.
9) No major anxiety (aside from cravings, which as I said aren't as bad now) and no other health-related things to note.

Anyways, those are main experiences. To anyone who's quitting, good luck and stay positive. You can get through it.

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Scott

26/5/2016 09:02:57 pm

I'm 1 month nico-free - A lot of these hit home for me... especially 'the world smells like shit'. I live in Ho Chi Minh City lol so regaining my sense of smell was not a benefit. I'm finding myself having more AND less energy. More energy naturally, but less because of weird sleep... lots of nightmares and dark circles under my eyes. I hope, like you mentioned, sleep gets better after a couple months.

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Mo

31/5/2016 09:28:58 am

I haven't smoked for a week ( today), (cold turkey after 12 years of nearly a pack a day bitches) and i've not had a single shit without assistance. It's the worst part for me. The cravings are first thing in the morning and in the evening, but they've eased quite a bit in the last 2 days. The anger has subsided finally and I've lost 3 pounds( actual amount is anyone's fucking guess BECAUSE IM FULL OF SHIT) because i'm not using them as a meal replacement anymore, im getting a normal adult amount of food lmao ( who knew 700 cals a day is fucking bad for you, eat at least a MIN 2000 ladies and 2500 MIN for dudes. thank u google) I HAVE SO MUCH ENERGY. The not sleeping well sucks, but i blame my MyPillow which is complete crap. This is like my third attempt at quitting and living alone makes it SO much easier. I've never had this easy of a time with it. the last three times i used patches gum and vapes, and all of them made me want to smoke more than just not having one. I didn't have the poop issue tho.

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Paul

17/6/2016 04:09:20 am

I think symptoms vary with different people I've heard the can last up to couple months even years afterwards hell no to that so I did a lot of of research into it before I started found out a few tricks and off I went, first few days cold turkey was a killer waking up confused and not knowing where I was constipation from hell like my insides where gonna explode little trick for everybody cranberry juice works wonders for this and bottled water tap water in certain areas of the country are a no. no hard water maybe like I say different for others but this was a killer for me as for the sleeping wow was that bad nice hot chocolate before bed yes please sound as a pound plus training my brain not to think about the million things running through my head faster than Lynford Christie lol other things I experienced tiredness, bouts of extreme energy bursts think I blew my mates head of on the phone one day for over an hour I seemed to crams weeks worth of convo into that hour.. Well soon as I hit the 2 week mark everything went normAl think keeping myself busy helped a lot taking my mind of a lot of thinks too I'm now proud of myself and feeling real positive about the future but I feel all your struggles stay strong people

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Cakies

21/7/2016 03:46:41 pm

Thank you for this! After 25 years smoking I'm 4 days a nonsmoker and I hate breathing through my nose but worry that stench is sitting on my tongue. Did take 4 days to be relieved and I'm swollen everywhere. Patience will prevail. Great read and thread! Thus is the only info I have found with regards to me stinking.

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Trinity

21/6/2016 04:38:02 pm

I have only been smoke free for going on 24 hours now but last night, my first night completely smoke free, I woke up several times to the smell of cigarette smoke in my bedroom. I went into other rooms and didn't smell it and even check my fiancé to see if he snuck a smoke in while I was sleeping but he didn't. Was it just a really vivid dream that made me smell it or what

i agree the point have to eat again and again, 24/7 i left smoking on july 22 2016 midnight, Cold turkey. i am on my 26th day.never used any gums or paches.till date my nose always blocked,no changes in taste and smell.

also i have another issue, some time, if i don't eat anything my gums make itching and have more craving towards cigarette did any 1 have this issues.

sometimes bowl movement is good, some times bad, i started eating 2 to 3 raw gralic cloves with honey to improve the immune system, but having allot of farts.

sleepness, very bad, some day sleeping more than 18 hours, someday 4 to 5 hours only.

the worest thing is my nose always blocked , i am having this issue for past 4 years, these is the main reason to kick smoking.

noone post anything related to their blocked nose, how long does it take to get back normal condiiton, any 1 have same issue,

Private Matter – I have found that it has been easier to do this time ‘under the radar’. I have previously made a pronouncement of giving up, which immediately adds pressure to situation. I think if you are going to give it a go, just quietly go about it. You will also find this lowers your expectations of other people’s reactions. It’s such a huge achievement to give up, part of you probably wants a little more feedback and back patting from everyone. But you are not going to get high-five’s every morning at the office if you tell people. In the nicest possible way, nobody else really gives a shit. So don’t bother telling them. A lot of people are non-smokers too, so they really won’t get what you are trying to do and what a big deal it is.

Give up when you want to – This sounds obvious, but give up when you are ready. Give yourself a run in, if this works for you. This may also start preparing you mentally for the start of your new life.

Habit and Addiction – No doubt smoking is a chemical dependency we carve if we are missing. But the habit, or habits have been just as tough to break. If you are like me, you will smoke at very specific times of the day, as part of a smoking routine. These were really hard to miss the first couple of days, but I found after four or five days it didn’t feel so strange missing them. NOTHING is better with smoking. This is a classic lie to ourselves.

Smells – I agree. I found I noticed smells I hadn’t noticed before, and in places I hadn’t noticed before. My second bedroom and kitchen have seemed to smell a little in the last few days. Not a bad smell, but just a smell. Before, they seemed to smell of ‘nothing’. This is the same at my office. The last few days I have come in, the office seems to have a really distinctive odour. Before I didn’t notice it smelling of anything. I have also noticed I smell. Again, not necessarily a disgusting smell, but just an odour. This has made me more hygiene conscious too. I would always shower every morning as standard, but I just seem more aware that I have an odour now. Maybe we all do, but I just didn’t notice before.

Motivation & Getting out of bed – I have found this much harder. I think because I used to have my first few cigarettes as soon as I got up, and that craving them got me out of bed! It has felt very strange having a coffee, and not having a cigarette with it. I have also found my motivation has actually lowered. I think because smoking was almost part of a reward structure in my daily routine. Like, if I go to the gym I can have a cigarette or two. Or if I have to do some gardening, I will ‘reward’ myself with a cigarette beforehand and one when I finish. I think I need to focus on the fact that a cigarette is not actually a reward at all, if anything, it’s the opposite.

Eating – I have eaten slightly more than normal I think. But nothing crazy. Maybe 10-15% more intake than before. Taste wise, I have not personally noticed this improve yet, but appreciate might take some time.

Toilet – Very similar experience. I used to have a real routine. I would have a couple of cigarettes when I woke up, and found this a real laxative. Thus, I would go straight after. There is something unsettling now about never knowing when I will need to go! But I guess will get used to this.

Sex-drive – I have noticed this has increased noticeably.

Aches & Pains – I have noticed that I don’t have aches around my chest now.

Stress – I am naturally a little OCD and can stress myself out over small things. I have to say though, my stress levels are the same.

Smoking is hard work – As the years go by and smoking is considered more anti-social by the hour, I have certainly found in recent years that having a cigarette is quite a pain now. At a bar – you have to go outside to a designated spot. If it’s a hot day, outside the bar can be busy with non-smokers, so you are even getting dirty looks outside! Eating out – you basically have to make your excuses and pop outside, then come back reeking. I live in the city, so all my neighbours are in very close proximity to me. So in my (tiny) garden having a smoke I often hear a neighbour making a point of slamming their window shut. Not exactly relaxing! Even in Europe you can hardly smoke at an airport now. Used to be quite common, post smoking ban, to have a little outside balcony or small smoking room tucked away you could have a quick cigarette. Those rooms though! Even as a smoker they are gross!

As mentioned, I am only 8 days in, so I can only speak from very limited experience.

Best of luck to everyone, and thank y

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Just some stuff about things, and maybe the occasional thing or two about stuff. I write and post every week(ish).